It is beginning to look like Armageddon out there! Our fire here in the local mountains (AKA the Pacheco fire) rages on, and now has surpassed 9,000 acres with only 10 % containment. The smoke plume reached all the way to Taos yesterday- 50 miles away! Due to the rugged terrain, extremely low humidity (4-8 % today) and gusty winds that still persist, the fire fighters have had a tough time of it. Per the NOOA weather website, we are experiencing "critical fire danger weather." Yes, yes we are. This was apparent again when I left work this evening. A new fire has started in the Santa Fe National forest... this time in the Jemez Mountains near Los Alamos. Here's the eery scene I saw tonight as I headed home.
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| Smoke Plume from the Jemez Fire |
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| Wide Angle to show the Extent |
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| Photo taken from Zia Rd- looking north east toward "our" mountains... the smoke from the two fires appear to be merging... |
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| Close up of the smoke/fire burning in the Jemez Mountains |
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| Our beautiful skies filling with smoke... |
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| Look closely to the left- that little dot is actually a rather large plane~ shows scale. Click to enlarge on any of these for greater detail. |
This fire (the Las Conchas,) started this afternoon and is already at 1,000 acres with zero percent containment. It is burning toward Bandolier National Monument (which has been evacuated, as has Cochiti Mesa & Las Conchas.) Los Alamos has not been evacuated yet, and according to press releases, " the fire has not entered LANL property and all radioactive material is appropriately accounted for and protected. " Well, sheesh, let's hope so!
I hear there is also a new fire burning today in the Bosque, down near Socorro. Presently, it seems as if much of the state is on fire. Your good thoughts & wishes are appreciated as we pray for rain.
***Monday, 6 a.m. Update~
this fire has been spreading quickly... reports are up to 6,000 acres already, and the Los Alamos National Lab has been shut down. Ours skies here in Santa Fe are quite smokey, and ash is settling on the ground.
*** Monday 4:45 p.m. Update~
I believe the morning internet update was behind schedule. by 10:30 a.m., I was hearing reports of 43,000 acres burned. Now, only 28 hours after the fire started, the latest info is close to 50,000 acres burned. The city of Los Alamos is now on Mandatory Evacuations. It's a ferocious fire & quite unsettling. I try not to worry about the Los Alamos National Lab burning & sending hazardous material into the air, but I would be lying if I said it were not crossing my mind. It is, quite a bit actually. I read conflicting reports on the internet about possible dangers of this. I'll keep ya posted.
***Wednesday 12:00 Update~
69,555 Acres burned. 12 homes lost. EPA involved in air testing for possible radiation contaminants. Reports are conflicting in regards to potential hazards~
"Our facilities & nuclear material are protected & safe," Laboratory Director Dr. Charles McMillan told ABC News. We have heard this repeatedly, but some how it is not comforting.
Officials initially denied there was any above ground nuclear waste, now they are telling the public that there are barrels of waste (namely plutonium) above ground, but that they are "safe." Former top security official tells otherwise:
*** Friday 8:00 p.m. Update:
Per infrared data, the Las Conchas Fire has burned 103,842 acres... making it the largest wildfire in the history of New Mexico...
***Monday, 6 a.m. Update~
this fire has been spreading quickly... reports are up to 6,000 acres already, and the Los Alamos National Lab has been shut down. Ours skies here in Santa Fe are quite smokey, and ash is settling on the ground.
*** Monday 4:45 p.m. Update~
I believe the morning internet update was behind schedule. by 10:30 a.m., I was hearing reports of 43,000 acres burned. Now, only 28 hours after the fire started, the latest info is close to 50,000 acres burned. The city of Los Alamos is now on Mandatory Evacuations. It's a ferocious fire & quite unsettling. I try not to worry about the Los Alamos National Lab burning & sending hazardous material into the air, but I would be lying if I said it were not crossing my mind. It is, quite a bit actually. I read conflicting reports on the internet about possible dangers of this. I'll keep ya posted.
***Wednesday 12:00 Update~
69,555 Acres burned. 12 homes lost. EPA involved in air testing for possible radiation contaminants. Reports are conflicting in regards to potential hazards~
"Our facilities & nuclear material are protected & safe," Laboratory Director Dr. Charles McMillan told ABC News. We have heard this repeatedly, but some how it is not comforting.
Officials initially denied there was any above ground nuclear waste, now they are telling the public that there are barrels of waste (namely plutonium) above ground, but that they are "safe." Former top security official tells otherwise:
"It contains approximately 20,000 barrels of nuclear waste," former top security official Glen Walp said. "It's not contained within a concrete, brick-and-mortar-type building, but rather in a sort of fabric-type building that a fire could easily consume."
"Potential is high for a major calamity if the fire would reach these areas," he added.
For updates on the Las Conchas fire or for any fire info, the inciweb is a good resource~ usually updated twice a day:
http://inciweb.org/incident/2385
As for the threat of potential hazards of air quality/radiation... let's just hope they can keep this raging fire from burning at Los Alamos National Lab- particularly in the "sensitive areas."
For updates on the Las Conchas fire or for any fire info, the inciweb is a good resource~ usually updated twice a day:
http://inciweb.org/incident/2385
As for the threat of potential hazards of air quality/radiation... let's just hope they can keep this raging fire from burning at Los Alamos National Lab- particularly in the "sensitive areas."
*** Friday 8:00 p.m. Update:
Per infrared data, the Las Conchas Fire has burned 103,842 acres... making it the largest wildfire in the history of New Mexico...
